It's a bustling street. In a charming part of the city, where most streets are charming as are the quaint homes, paved streets and the last few signs of a greener past. Where on either side of the bustling street have stood fast establishments the test of time and tide. Graciously have they embraced change and donned a little gloss on the old street. Old wine in new bottle one may say.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Easter is Spring.....
Spring is defined as the transition period between winter and summer. In a way, nature’s gentle way of softening summer’s eventual onslaught. Short though it may be, it’s nature’s way of showing hope and joy after a cold and bleak winter.
It is naturally, celebrated by the peoples of cultures and communities across the length and breadth of this planet in ways which appear different, but are essentially the same.
The specific definition of the exact timing of spring varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. Spring refers therefore, to ideas of re-birth, renewal and re-growth or time for harvests.
It is from these that stems the origin of springtime celebrations across cultures such as, Nowruz or Navroze, Pesakh or Passover, Baisakh and Holi, Poila boisakh and Bihu, Ugadi and Padwa and Easter.
Easter or Eostre in old english, Ostern in germanic, Paskha in greek, Pascua in spanish, Pasqua in italian, Paques in french etc.
To offer thanks for a good harvest that survived the cold winters, is why each of the above festivals is celebrated.
Each offering obeisance in most celebrations to a pagan or folk god or goddess of nature.
In the same vein, Easter, is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. As with many other cultures in India,Easter is a moveable feast. In that, it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. To put it simply, Easter falls on the
first sunday after the full moon following the northern hemisphere’s vernal equinox.
Easter also marks the end of the season of lent, which is marked with fasting and observing penance. This is an important period. A forty day period of austerity is observed as a sign to feel, in one’s individual way the suffering endured by Christ.
What it really means is, to develop a sense of strength and will power to overcome attitudes and habits that limit our abilities to live better and improved lives. The forty day period in a way is a trial period which should eventually last a life time. Christ led life by example and hoped people who wanted to be free of shackles would also lead by example. Lent therefore is a period, in some small measure, to emulate Christ as the perfect mortal, even in His suffering.
Therefore He becomes immortal.
His death and resurrection for the sake of humanity is celebrated as Easter. Which also means re-birth, renewal and re-growth. A chance for second innings. Traditions of the easter bunny and easter eggs are pagan or folk customs that enunciate the allegory to re-birth and renewal.
That is what Easter and spring is about. Death is followed by life. Winter which is black and kills all life is followed by Spring which brings life.
It is naturally, celebrated by the peoples of cultures and communities across the length and breadth of this planet in ways which appear different, but are essentially the same.
The specific definition of the exact timing of spring varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. Spring refers therefore, to ideas of re-birth, renewal and re-growth or time for harvests.
It is from these that stems the origin of springtime celebrations across cultures such as, Nowruz or Navroze, Pesakh or Passover, Baisakh and Holi, Poila boisakh and Bihu, Ugadi and Padwa and Easter.
Easter or Eostre in old english, Ostern in germanic, Paskha in greek, Pascua in spanish, Pasqua in italian, Paques in french etc.
To offer thanks for a good harvest that survived the cold winters, is why each of the above festivals is celebrated.
Each offering obeisance in most celebrations to a pagan or folk god or goddess of nature.
In the same vein, Easter, is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. As with many other cultures in India,Easter is a moveable feast. In that, it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. To put it simply, Easter falls on the
first sunday after the full moon following the northern hemisphere’s vernal equinox.
Easter also marks the end of the season of lent, which is marked with fasting and observing penance. This is an important period. A forty day period of austerity is observed as a sign to feel, in one’s individual way the suffering endured by Christ.
What it really means is, to develop a sense of strength and will power to overcome attitudes and habits that limit our abilities to live better and improved lives. The forty day period in a way is a trial period which should eventually last a life time. Christ led life by example and hoped people who wanted to be free of shackles would also lead by example. Lent therefore is a period, in some small measure, to emulate Christ as the perfect mortal, even in His suffering.
Therefore He becomes immortal.
His death and resurrection for the sake of humanity is celebrated as Easter. Which also means re-birth, renewal and re-growth. A chance for second innings. Traditions of the easter bunny and easter eggs are pagan or folk customs that enunciate the allegory to re-birth and renewal.
That is what Easter and spring is about. Death is followed by life. Winter which is black and kills all life is followed by Spring which brings life.
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